Former Bayern Munich midfielder has a long history of attracting negative attention. From stealing fellow teammates wives to being found guilty of nightclub assault, it’s almost as if the outspoken Champions League winning captain rubs people up the wrong way, just ask German legend Lothar Matthaus, who Effenberg ripped apart in a now infamous autobiography.
Now a TV pundit in Germany, the man they call Der Tiger has aimed his cross hares at new Stoke City signing Xherdan Shaqiri for having the temerity to choose the Potters over German club Schalke.
Speaking to Sky Germany he continues;
“I do not understand Shaqiri’s move to Stoke at all. You have been badly advised if you go there.
You have to ask yourself where you can reach your sporting goals as a footballer.
That should be the challenge. Schalke would have been perfect for Shaqiri.
Earning €1million more or less should be irrelevant. When you can make €6million at Stoke or €3million at Schalke, you pick the latter.
You play Bundesliga football in a great stadium, get your desired return to Germany and play for a great club that you can help move forward.
But Stoke? Come on, I cannot understand the player, his agent, his parents or his brother.
This is a shame and a sad state of affairs. Only because they are throwing around cash? Is it really all about money for footballers these days?
So, Stefan Effenberg really does not rate Stoke as a European powerhouse then….